M81C — Blind people in the sky

A person goes to heaven or (rarely) to the lower world, where he meets blind people (one or two), usually makes them sighted, and returns to earth himself.

Berezkin category: Adventures: Tricks and episodes

This is of motif type Adventures and tricks and is part of group 10, Adventures.

M81.  Wandering, the hero finds himself in a place where blind or blind (two or more) live.
M81a.  The hero meets two blind women and makes them sighted. These women are birds (geese, ducks, hazel grouses, partridges).
M81b.  The character is warned not to try to reach an arrow if it gets stuck in a tree. He breaks the ban and gets into trouble.
M81c.  A person goes to heaven or (rarely) to the lower world, where he meets blind people (one or two), usually makes them sighted, and returns to earth himself.
M81d.  A person meets (most often in the sky) one or two blind people and restores their sight.
M81e.  young man undertakes to herd cattle and is warned not to cross the borders of a giant, dragon, witch, etc. The young man violates the ban and kills a giant.
M81e1.  A young man lives with an old man whose eyes or eyes were carried away by a giant. The young man goes to the giant, kills him, brings his eyes, the old man sees the light.
M81e2.  By playing an instrument or otherwise, a character is able to attract an animal or person far away from him.
M81f.  blind beggar robs an honest man. He watches him and, when he enters the house, takes everything the blind man has accumulated. He often takes money accumulated by other blind people as well.

This motif has been recorded in 26 traditions: Central Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo, Araki, Aore, Maewo, Malekula, Vao, Efate (Vate), Nguna, Mae, Ambrim, Pentecost, Oba (=Aoba, East Ambae, Lepers'), Omba, Rotuma, Maori, Moriori (Chatam Islands), Northern Cook Islands: Rakahanga, Manihiki, Tongareva, Southern Cook Islands: Mangaia, Rarotonga, Atiu, Iatutakim Pukapuka, Tubuai (=Austral Islands, incl Rapa), Mangareva, Marquesas, Gilbert Islands, Nauru, Banaba (Ocean island), Ontong Java, Nukumanu, Takuu, Nukuria, Tuvalu (Ellice), Ulithi, Ngulu, Central islands and Bikol: Vizaya, Mansaká, Bikol, Mangyan, Panayan, Sulod, Cebuano (Cebu), Capiz, Romblomanon, Manuyu, Chukchi, Dogrib, Slavey, Inland Tlingit, Tlingit, Haida, Nootka (Nu-chah-nulth), Makah, Carrier, Thompson (Nlaka'pamux), Lillooet, Comox, Pentlatch, Sechelt (incl Sisiatl), Squamish, Halcomelem, Karok, Nauru, Halkomelem (Snaymuk)